The Jeff Rense website has a photo on the front page of Obama at some event with people to the left and right of him saluting the flag or holding their hand on their heart. Obama stands with his hands at his sides, and rense added the caption 'Obama Again Refuses To Honor America'. Is it dishonoring America, (or 'Murika', as G W Bush referred to it) by not saying a pledge that was originally written by an admitted socialist flag salesman?
Seriously. Why do people become so brainwashed into conformity over something which they don't even know the origin of? It's sort of the same way people say "God bless you" when someone sneezes. Most people say it, or some version thereof, such as "gazoontite" ( Gesundheit ) or 'salute' (salud) en espanol. Why do people say that? I once heard that it originated from some superstition that one's soul left their body when they sneezed, thus they needed God's blessing at that time. What a bunch of superstitious nonsense! Some kooks believed that your soul leaves your body when you sneeze? and for infinity thereafter, their progeny will continue to mindlessly repeat the sneeze mantra, not even realizing what it means?
Similarly, Americans seem to have blindly accepted recitation as 'the pledge' (what pledge? whose pledge?) as ''patriotic'. (Jingoism anyone?)
Here is a cogent history of the pledge. There is also a history of court cases on the pledge,the first notable one in 1943 when the court ruled on West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. The court concluded that, "To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous instead of a compulsory routine is to make an unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds"
Sounds like a very good decision.
Also, the original pledge was said with nazi style salute; here it is described by Bellamy himself:
- "At a signal from the Principal the pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to the side, face the Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives the flag the military salute -- right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with the forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” At the words, “to my Flag,” the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side."
Here is an old photo of Roosevelt receiving some Nazi style salutes in a motorcade on the streets of America. Rexcurry.net/ is probably the most comprehensive source for this information.
Don't get me wrong. I am not nor would I ever defend Barack Obama, (or George Bush for that matter, or the rest of them). But there are many more valid reasons to oppose the regime than something silly like this.
And while we're at it. "One nation under God?"
What sort of nation that kills 50 million babies through infanticide could ever in a million years be considered "Godly"? As someone wrote in this letter to the editor, Fifty million abortions is 50 million too many.
There are many problems in this country but when the majority do not realize something as simple as respecting life, I don't see how the Lord will bless this nation and I can't see touting it as a nation under God. And for the record, all these supposed pro-life republicans who are warmoners, I suppose they only value the 'sanctity of life' before it leaves the womb. When it's 18 you can send it off in an undeclared war for empire and kill millions of Iraqis or whoever else the elitist puppet in the white house sends them to kill.
It's so unbelieveable. So no, the flag photos or where Barry Soetoro places his arms, do not matter.
Comments
I agree the socialist pledge of allegiance should be discarded. The problem here, is as the writer suggests, that most Americans recite it blindly never thinking about its meaning nor caring about its origins. Since it has become an institution the president must cite the reasons he doesn't conform to the custom. Obama should say something like, "as president of America I find socialism repugnant and refuse recite a pledge written by a socialist with socialism connotations." But, we all know Obama is a socialist and his problem isn't with the pledge but, with traditional American values.
Good article. It's also good knowing there are some other pro-life libertarians.
I understand why some people think they are necessary (or at least necessary to be legal) and I don't want to be someone that tells women how they can use their own body, but to me abortion (the termination of an unwanted individual)is a form of eugenics.
I have always felt that way.
To me, nothing can justify it (except for a case of the mother's health, where it may be a "one-or-the-other" kind of deal). But I digress.
Great article, and I also think it's childish to assume one's patriotism is determinable by their saying or refusal to say the pledge.
This article missed the point entirely, which is an example of what happens when a writer allows ideology to triumph over an examination of fact. Obama is the ceremonial leader of this nation, and one of the criticisms of his presidency concerns his nature being alien to what makes the rest of us Americans. The fact that he refuses to participate in one of the core ceremonies of citizenship shows his arrogance and feelings of superiority over the rest of us. Debating the ceremony itself is not the point. The fact that all other presidents would wear red white and blue, and sport a flag pin, always dress appropriately in the Oval Office and salute the flag when people are watching, is.
Also, mentioning Jeff Rense, the proprietor of rense.com, a hate site, and discussing what he posts there, in a libertarian forum, is inappropriate, to say the least. The mention demeans The Examiner. I found it troubling. I used to have such high hopes for The Examiner.
Tisk, Tisk, Tisk-what a total waste of webspace Comrade!
It sounds like YOU are the one that hates America.
Hey if you cannot stand behind our troops, then PLEASE do feel free to stand in front of them.
Americans expect their leaders to show respect for our Flag. Plain and simple. The only thing I want for Christmas is to see Obama's Communist Flag-draped coffin being pulled by Jackasses to his final resting place. Oh God, hear my prayer....
Amen Brother!
Oh come on, I thought enough time had passed and the sore losers were finally going to stop acting like children and name-calling.
You actually had me interested for the first few paragraphs but eventually the unprofessional writing style and clear bias turned me off. You've got to be more professional than this if you want anyone to take you seriously.
Your bias and writing style are almost comical. As one that has been reciting the pledge since a small child I can say that to me it does mean something. It represents all those that have gone before to make this country the greatest "nation under God" in the world. To refuse to honor our symbol of freedom is a refusal to honor all those that have given so much to keep it free. Anyone that has ever fought for something they truely believe in knows how important the symbol for that freedom is. To have a commander in chief that refuses to pledge such is nothing short of treason. If one of our fighting privates in the field refused to do so they would be dealt with soundly. Our president should be dealt with in the same manner.
Your bias and writing style are almost comical. As one that has been reciting the pledge since a small child I can say that to me it does mean something. It represents all those that have gone before to make this country the greatest "nation under God" in the world. To refuse to honor our symbol of freedom is a refusal to honor all those that have given so much to keep it free. Anyone that has ever fought for something they truely believe in knows how important the symbol for that freedom is. To have a commander in chief that refuses to pledge such is nothing short of treason. If one of our fighting privates in the field refused to do so they would be dealt with soundly. Our president should be dealt with in the same manner.
Your bias and writing style are almost comical. As one that has been reciting the pledge since a small child I can say that to me it does mean something. It represents all those that have gone before to make this country the greatest "nation under God" in the world. To refuse to honor our symbol of freedom is a refusal to honor all those that have given so much to keep it free. Anyone that has ever fought for something they truely believe in knows how important the symbol for that freedom is. To have a commander in chief that refuses to pledge such is nothing short of treason. If one of our fighting privates in the field refused to do so they would be dealt with soundly. Our president should be dealt with in the same manner.
Your bias and writing style are almost comical. As one that has been reciting the pledge since a small child I can say that to me it does mean something. It represents all those that have gone before to make this country the greatest "nation under God" in the world. To refuse to honor our symbol of freedom is a refusal to honor all those that have given so much to keep it free. Anyone that has ever fought for something they truely believe in knows how important the symbol for that freedom is. To have a commander in chief that refuses to pledge such is nothing short of treason. If one of our fighting privates in the field refused to do so they would be dealt with soundly. Our president should be dealt with in the same manner.
Pay attention to names, then agendas. Give me an honest American who doesn't care for the Pledge, the Flag, or the Constitution. Except subversives. And there is only one group of individual tribesmen who want this country and people on its knees. Hint: "it ain't the Mooselims, Dummy!". And Obuma, the illegal alien imposter is their perfect marionette.
Total waste fo web page and time, Martin go and start a comic book or something
Man it's time to move out of your mom's basement. Your rhetoric apparently knows no bounds.
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